Pianoforte-action.



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N0 798,482/ PATENTBD APR.25,1905.

P. A. LINGSGH.

PIANOFORTE ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lullen rox @wa/mam@ I w A UNITED STATES :Patented April 25, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.,

PIANOFORTE-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,482, dated April 25, 1905.

Application filed August 8, 1904. Serial No. 219,961.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern..-

Be it known that l, FREDERICK ALBERT LINGsGI-I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Van Nest, in the county of lestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pianoforte-Actions; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in pianoforte-actions, and particularly to actions for upright pianos; and it has for its object the provision of a pianoforte-action for upright pianos which will be capable of the repeating action which is common to grandpianoforte actions.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be fully described and claimed.

ln the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the mechanism of a pianoforte-action, the action rails and supports being shown in section, while the parts of one member of the action are shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the repeating m-echanism constituting an important feature of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View through a pianoforte-action, similar to Fig. 1, but showing the hammer in a retracted position. F ig. 4; is an enlarged perspective view of the repeating action, showing a different manner of connecting the same with adjoining parts; and Fig. 5 is a detailf-sectional view further illustrating said latter form of the device.

lt is important in a piano-action that provision is made for a rapid repeating action, and the present invention contemplates a mechanism which is capable of providing an upright-pianoforte action with a repeating mechanism as eflicient as the repeating mechanism of the grand pianoforte.

1n the drawings l have shown my invention as applied to the parts of a pianoforteaction adapted for an upright piano.

In the illustration, 1 indicates the. large rail of the piano-action, upon which is mounted in the usual way a hammer 2, a whip 3, carrying a jack 4, a damper 5', and the usual adjacent parts. ln the illustration also asmall actionrail 6 is shown and the usual piano-key 7. The hammer 2 is constructed in the usual manner and is provided with an operating hammer-butt 8, which is pivotally attached to the rail 1 by the Aliauge 9. The lower edge ofthe butt is shouldered and provided with felt bearing-surfaces in the usual manner and is engaged by the upper end of the jack f1. The Iiack et is pivotally mounted upon the whip 3, and its lower end engages the regulating or escapement screw 10, solthat the upper end of the jack is pulled away from its engagement with the lower end of the butt 8, so as to permit the hammer to rebound after having struck the strings. The hammerbutt 8 is provided with a counter check or bumper 11, which is engaged by the usual hammer-check 12, carried by a stem or standard 13, secured to the whip. An important feature of the invention is the manner of connecting the counter check or bumper with the upper end of the jack 4, the construction being such that the actuating end of the jack is returned to its position beneath the hammer-butt S as rapidly as the hammer is retracted and as rapidly as it may loe desired to operate the hammer upon the strings 14 of the instrument. This mechanism consists in a spring 15, which is secured at one end to the lower portion of thc counter-check 11, while its other end bears against the upper free end of the jack et. The spring 15 is a light and delicate one and yet is of suflicient strength to move the upper end of the jack instantly into its position beneath thehammerbutt. and 3, is formed with a coiled portion 1G, which adds to the resiliency of the spring. The end of the spring adjacent to the coiled portion 16 is so mounted in the counter-check that it may be engaged by an adjusting-screw 17. By turning the screw against the end of the spring the said end may be forced toward the jack and a greater tension will be exerted upon the end of the jack. The free end of the spring 15 is bent in such a manner that it may engage an elongated groove-bearing 18,

The spring 15, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,

formed in the face of the jack 4. The groovebearing 18 is made of suflicient length to permit of the movement of the jack with respect to the spring without the liability of the spring becoming disengaged from the said jack. As shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, the spring may be made approximately S shape in side elevation.

The mounting' of the spring 15 upon the end of the counter-check does not interfere with the usual connection of the tape k19 of the bridle-check, for the tape passes through an aperture formed in the counter check or bumper and is attached to the upper end of the bridle-spring, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 3.

Although I prefer the construction above set forth, it will be evident that the spring for operating the jack may be made slightly different and may be connected at both ends with the adjoining parts without departing from the spirit of the invention and without interfering' with the accomplishment of the desired result. As shown in Figs. 4 and the spring Q0 is pivotally mounted at the lower end of the counter-check 2l, the pivot-pin 22 passing' through the coiled portion 23 of the said spring. The end of the spring carried by the counter is engaged by a set-screw 24, so that the tension `of the spring may be altered. The spring 2O curves downwardly and then upwardly toward the end of the jack 25. The end of the jack is slotted, as at 26, for a short distance, and the spring QOprojects into said slot and is formed with a hooked end 27, which engages an attaching loop or support 28. This loop 28 is usually made of flexible material and is securely fastened to the end of the jack.

rlhe operation of the two devices described are practically the same. The position of the springs l5 and Q() is such that in the operation of the instrument as soon as a key is depressed and a jack lifted, so as to force its hammer against a string', and the jack has been withdrawn from the butt of the hammer by its engagement with the cscapement-serew 10 the spring will immediately act upon the upper end of the jack and when the key is released will 4next return it under the butt of the hammer a sufficient distance to repeat the stroke, if necessary. 1n practice the delicate springs 15 and 9.0 are found to operate praetically instantaneously in returning the jack to such a position that it may operate the ham mer immediately upon the raising and depressing of its key.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the mounting of the jacksprings upon pivots carried by the countercheck, as the end of each spring may be merelyembedded in, and thus rigidly secured to, the said counter-check. It is preferred, however, to form the said spring with a coiled portion in its length for giving it a greater resiliency.

The fact that the springs are applied to the upper ends of the jacks affords the said springs the greatest possible leverage upon the jacks for returning them quickly to their positions beneath the hammer-butts. It also follows from this construction that the springs can be of adelicate character withoutdetracting from their quick action upon the jacks. The structure is simple and yet effective and notlikely to get out of order.

Having now described my invention, what Il claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pianoforte-action comprising a hammer, a butt carrying the same and a countercheck secured to the butt, a hammer-actuating jack, a spring secured to the counter-check at one end and engaging the jack adjacent to the hammer-butt for quickly returning the jack to operative position, the said jack being provided with a guiding-groove for engaging the spring.

2. A pianoforte-action comprising a hammer and a counter-check carried thereby, an operating-jack, a spring mounted upon the counter-check at one end and engaging' at its other end the jack, and a loop connecting the end of the said spring with the end of the jack.

3. A pianoforte-action comprising a hammer, a counter-check carried thereby, an operating-jack engaging the hammer and provided with a guide-groove near its upper end, a spring carried by the counter-check and a bearing portion formed upon the said spring and engaging the said groove in the jack.

4. A pianoforte-action comprising a hammer, a counter-check carried thereby, an operating-jack engaging the hammer, a spring carried by the counter-check at one end, the said jack being provided with an elongated slot for receiving the other end of the spring, and means mounted in one end of the said slot for engaging the end of the spring.

In testimony whereof 1 affix my signature in` presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK A liBEli'l lil NGSCH.

Titnessesz HUGO Mock, RoBT. H. HIBBARD.

IOO 

